Arsenal get Champions League boost as PSG rocked by injury crisis as eight stars miss clash
Arsenal host Paris Saint-Germain in their first Champions League home game of the season on Tuesday night and Luis Enrique is navigating a major injury crisis crisis ahead of the contest
by Ryan Taylor · The MirrorPSG have been hit with an injury crisis ahead of their Champions League clash against Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday.
The Ligue 1 champions could not fill the bench - naming seven subs instead of nine - on Friday night as they ran out 3-1 winners over Stade Rennes at the Parc des Princes. But now they have an even bigger challenge on their hands, as they bid to navigate a tricky European away trip to north London with what is potentially, a scratch squad.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has missed the past three matches with a muscle issue meaning summer signing Matvei Safonov could start between the sticks. Marco Asensio has also been sidelined with a thigh problem while new big-money midfielder arrival Desire Doue has damaged his ankle.
Vitinha also sat out of the win over Rennes with a foot injury while left-back Nuno Mendes missed the clash due to illness. Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe and Goncalo Ramos remain long-term absentees.
To add to that, PSG only had two senior players - Milan Skriniar and Randal Kolo Muani - in reserve against Rennes and youngsters Ibrahim Mbaye, Senny Mayulu, Yoram Zague, Naoufel El Hannach and Amau Tenas were all part of the match-day squad.
Enrique made it clear ahead of the contest that "at no point" would he be thinking about the showdown against Arsenal, indicating he would not be looking to rest any players.
But PSG were 3-0 up in the second half thanks to a brace from Bradley Barcola and one from Lee Kang-in before Arnaud Kalimuendo pulled one back for the visitors. Marquinhos, Barcola, Fabian Ruiz and Ousmane Dembele were then all withdrawn once the game was wrapped up.
Speaking after the match, Enrique issued a snappy response when asked if set-pieces could prove a problem against the Gunners, who continue to threaten from both corners and free-kicks, following PSG's shaky finish to the game.
Enrique said: " Football hasn’t been kind to us tonight. Rennes barely had any chances, yet they managed to score from a penalty. It’s frustrating. Negativity seems to be the norm in journalism surrounding PSG. When you compare the stats to last year, everything’s actually improved. But of course, there are questions about those last ten minutes."
Meanwhile, Arsenal's ranks have been bolstered by Takehiro Tomiyasu's return to partial training while Mikel Merino is getting closer to a comeback following his shoulder fracture.
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